May  14,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
449 
e  ection  list,  which  appears  every  autumn  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture , 
will  here  be  the  best  guide.  I  have  already  indicated  some  of  my 
aversions  and  admirations.  I  will  only  say  one  thing — that  few 
varieties,  and  half  a  dozen  of  each  of  the  best,  will  be  found  far  more 
use  ul  than  ten  times  as  many  all  of  different  sorts.  Marie  Baumann, 
d  >  williams,  Mr9-  J •  Laing  are  perhaps  the  three  most  useful  of 
77'  ^ •  8  >’  anc^  Mardchal  Niel,  The  Bride,  and  Souvenir  d’Elise  Vardon  the 
.mo8^  re*,able  for  the  Tea  classes.  I  am  only  advising  quite  small 
exhibitors.  Have  a  few,  and  all  good  ones  ;  and  keep  in  touch  with  all 
advances  Have  a  hobby,  and  ride  it  judiciouslv.  Happy  is  the  man 
that  has  a  hobby. 
Hybrid  leas  are  not  in  general  good  exhibition  Roses,  having  hardly 
sufficient  substance,  though  in  this  very  cla*s  Captain  Christy  and  La 
r ranee  are  the  perfection  of  garden  Roses,  and  will  sometimes  stand 
very  well  in  the  box.  Ludy  Mary  Fitzwilliam  is  a  very  good  show  Rose  ; 
(rustave  Regis  is  pretty  in  the  bud  and  for  the  garden.  Of  the  Bourbons 
Mrs.  Paul  and  Souvenir  de  Malmaigon  will  suffice.  Of  the  Hybrid  Chinas, 
Madame  Plantier.  which  makes  into  a  splendid  bush  of  short-lived 
white  blossoms.  Of  the  Briars,  Austrian  and  Harrisoni.  Of  the  Sweet 
Briars,  Meg  Merrilies  and  Lady  Penzance.  Of  the  Banksias,  the  double 
yellow  for  cutting,  and  the  double  white  for  perfume.  The  single 
yellow  is  pretty  and  slightly  scented,  the  single  white  to  be  avoided. 
Climbing  Roses. — I  have  already  mentioned  climbing  Roses.  Some 
of  the  Noisettes  in  this  class  are  excellent.  Reine  Marie  Henriette 
(the  red  Gloire)  was  perhaps  the  best  red  until  the  rise  of  Crimson 
Rambler.  Gloire  de  Dijon,  and  its  large  progeny,  especially  Madame 
Berard,  may  safely  be  planted. 
The  lines  of  Mr.  P.  M.  James  may  fairly,  I  think,  be  accepted  to 
form  my  finish  v 
“A  Rose  looked  in  a  window 
One  bleak  November  morn  ; 
’Twas  a  lingering  ray  of  sunshine, 
The  wreck  of  the  year  to  adorn. 
“  The  beauty  and  grace  of  the  flower 
Shed  gladness  and  joy  through  the  room, 
And  the  Rose,  looking  in  at  the  window, 
Dispelled  November’s  gloom. 
“  There’s  a  Rose  looking  in  at  the  window 
In  every  condition  of  life ; 
In  days  of  content  and  enjoyment, 
In  hours  with  bitterness  rife. 
“  Where’er  there’s  a  smile  of  a  woman, 
As  bright  as  a  beam  from  above, 
’Tis  the  Rose  looking  in  at  the  window, 
And  filling  the  dwelling  with  love.” 
— Alan  Cheales 
THE  R.H.S.  AND  PROVINCIAL  SHOWS. 
I  have  read  and  re-read  the  interesting  leader  (page 387)  on  provincial 
shows,  and  notwithstanding  the  hopeful  view  taken  on  the  new  departure 
of  the  R.H.S.  in  connection  therewith,  I  fear  that  the  action  of  the  Society 
in  the  matter  will  not  have  the  desired  effect.  It  was  with  pleasure 
that  many  interested  in  horticulture  read  the  letters  and  articles  which 
appeared  in  your  Journal  about  Christmas,  and  when  at  the  annual 
meeting  it  was  announced  that  the  R.H.S.  had  considered  the  sugges¬ 
tion  thie  pleasure  was  increased,  although  a  general  feeling  of  regret  was 
felt  that  the  new  departure  would  only  take  the  form  of  a  deputation 
visiting  two  shows  in  1896,  and  at  the  same  time  actually  fixing  the 
places. 
It  appears  to  me  that  the  mistake  made  by  the  R.H.S.  in  this 
procedure  has  been  the  haste  in  adopting  it  before  the  result  had  been 
fully  considered.  It  might  have  been  better  if  at  the  annual  meeting 
discussion  had  taken  place  amongst  the  members  present,  and  their 
counsel  taken.  It  might  have  also  been  a  good  plan  if  before  deciding 
the  R.H.S.  Council  bad  drawn  up  a  series  of  carefully  worded  questions 
and  sent  them  to  the  principal  local  societies  requesting  answers  and 
suggestions.  By  these  and  other  means  a  concensus  of  opinion  might 
have  been  obtained,  which  would  have  been  most  valuable  to  the  Council 
in  their  deliberation,  and  something  of  a  permanent  nature  might  have 
been  agreed  on.  Instead  of  this  a  deputation  system  has  been 
inaugurated,  the  places  decided  on  to  be  visited,  and  an  intimation  given 
that  no  others  could  be  entertained  this  year.  In  passing  I  may  add  so 
far  as  the  horticultural  world  in  general  knowing  anything  of  the 
decision  of  the  Council,  all  I  can  gather  is  that  the  announcement  of  the 
President  came  on  it  as  a  great  surprise,  causing  much  astonishment  to 
the  principal  societies  in  England,  so  that  at  the  commencement  a 
grievance  has  been  created  which  will  take  a  long  time  before  it  is 
dispelled. 
Let  me  analyse  the  system  of  deputation  and  see  how  it  will  work. 
Of  course  the  number  of  individual  societies  is  so  large  that  to  visit  all 
is  entirely  out  of  the  question.  There  therefore  appears  to  remain  two 
courses  open.  1,  To  select  from  these  societies  the  most  prominent  and 
visit  them  in  turn.  It  is  probable  if  this  course  was  adopted  twenty  may 
be  chosen.  Visiting  two  a  year,  York  show  will  be  revisited  in  1906. 
2,  To  divide  the  British  isles  in,  say  eight  areas,  visiting  two  of  such  areas 
each  year.  This  appears  more  feasible,  as  each  area  would  be  visited  in 
four  years  ;  but  how  will  this  work  ? 
Let  me  take  the  other  place  to  be  visited  this  year — Chester — and 
form  a  small  compact  area,  including  Staffordshire,  Shropshire,  and 
Cheshire,  In  this  area  are  well-known  sho  vs  at  Shrewsbury,  Wolver* 
hampton,  and  Trentham.  It  follows  therefore  if  the  areas  are  visited 
in  proper  sequence,  and  the  Society  select  the  shows  in  the  order  they 
are  named,  that  Shrewsbury  would  be  visited  in  1900,  Wolverhampton 
1904,  and  Trentham  in  1908,  and  Chester  again  in  1912.  So  when 
analysed  the  whole  thing  seems  absurd.  What  possible  good  to  horti¬ 
culture  in  that  district  can  the  visit  to  York  in  1896,  and  a  second  visit 
in  1906,  by  one  plan  do,  or  the  visit  to  Chester  in  1896  and  a  probable 
next  visit  in  1912  by  the  other  ?  Besides,  is  it  likely  that  jarge  societies 
like  those  named,  and  which  have  been  passed  on  one  side  by  the  R.H.S. 
this  year  in  the  selection  of  an  entirely  new  society  for  the  honour  of  its 
visit,  would  consent  to  any  such  arrangement  ?  And  yet  if  the  R.H.S.’s 
deputation  visit  the  areas  in  a  perfectly  fair  manner  there  could  be  no 
other.  Their  self-respect  would  give  them  no  alternative  but  to  have 
nothing  to  do  with  any  such  scheme.  Already  I  have  heard  rumours 
that  some  societies  will  not  send  invitations,  even  this  year,  under  the 
arrangements  the  R.H.S.  have  made.  Besides,  is  it  likely  that  the 
President  of  the  R.H.S.  and  a  large  deputation  would  keep  on  going  to 
shows  year  after  year?  The  novelty  will  be  gone  after  the  present  year, 
or  perhaps  next,  and  it  needs  no  prophetic  spirit  to  say  what  the  end  of 
the  scheme  will  be.  To  show  the  baste  in  which  the  matter  has  been 
brought  out,  the  work  the  deputation  have  to  do  is  not  defined,  and  it 
appears  that  even  at  York  it  will  require  some  caution  to  keep  the  judges 
and  deputation  to  their  respective  tasks  that  they  shall  not  clash.  Of 
course  there  is  always  one  pleasant  side  to  a  deputational  visit.  1  refer 
to  the  inevitable  banquet.  Pleasant  speeches  are  made,  kind  congratula¬ 
tions  passed,  everybody  important  praised,  and  all  go  home  happy. 
Your  readers  may  say,  Why  this  criticism  ?  In  reply  I  criticise 
because  I  want  to  see  a  more  satisfactory  state  of  things  than  the 
deputation  system  to  two  shows  a  year,  and  I  venture  to  submit  a  few 
crude  ideas  of  my  own,  which  others  may  turn  about,  alter,  add  to,  and 
so  reconstruct,  that  they  might  possibly  be  of  use  to  the  horticultural 
world.  What  I  should  like  to  see  are  real  permanent  unions  in  the 
provinces  with  the  R.H.S.,  and  as  a  basis  for  such  a  union  I  would  urge 
the  following  conditions  : — 
1,  That  all  societies  of  seven  years  standing  shall  be  eligible. 
2,  That  every  society  in  union  shall  pay  to  the  R.H.S.  a  sum  of,  say, 
£21,  such  sum  to  cover  the  expenses  of  three  judges  selected  by  the 
R.H.S.  from  its  Council  or  Committees,  and  also  the  Secretary  to  visit 
the  show,  as  well  as  defray  the  cost  of  medals  and  certificates. 
3,  The  schedule  of  the  society  in  union  to  contain  full  particulars 
what  medals  shall  be  given,  the  classes  for  which  they  should  be  given, 
and  the  regulations  (drawn  up  by  the  R.H.S.)  under  which  they  are 
given. 
4,  That  medals  and  certificates  shall  be  issued  by  the  R.H.S.,  and 
awarded  by  the  three  judges  and  Secretary  sent  down,  and  that  such 
certificate  shall  be  of  the  full  value  of  the  R.H.S.  London  certificates. 
5,  That  no  exhibit  Bhall  be  eligible  for  a  certificate  or  medal  from  a 
wider  area  than  fifty  (or  100)  miles  from  the  place  of  exhibition. 
Everything  within  thirty  miles  of  London  must  be  exhibited  in  London. 
6,  That  full  particulars  of  all  entries  for  medals  and  certificates 
should  be  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  R.H.S.  a  fortnight  before  the  day 
of  exhibition,  and  a  record  made  by  the  Secretary  of  the  R.H.S.  of 
any  medals  and  certificates  granted,  to  whom  granted,  and  for  what 
exhibits. 
7,  Each  society  in  union  should  have  the  privilege  of  nominating  as 
an  hon.  member  of  the  R.H.S.  one  gardener  in  its  district  to  represent  it 
on  the  Council. 
I  venture  to  think  if  a  scheme  formed  on  these  lines  could  be 
initiated  there  would  be  a  great  benefit  to  horticulture,  inasmuch  as 
there  would  be  permanent  centres  of  the  R  H.S.  in  different  parts  of 
England,  free  to  all  societies  to  become  such  if  they  wish,  free  from  all 
jealousy,  always  at  work,  without  any  spasmodic  excitement  of  deputa¬ 
tional  influence,  and  which  could  bring  the  R.H.S.  in  constant  touch  with 
horticulture  in  all  its  phases  in  the  country. 
At  prtsent  any  society  affiliated  with  the  R.H.S.  can,  on  payment  of 
an  annual  subscription,  purchase  silver  and  bronze  medals  of  the  R.H.S. 
These  are  given  away  often  by  third-rate  judges  ;  but  yet  a  silver  Bank- 
sian  medal,  given  to  a  local  firm  for  ordinary  exhibits,  has  for  advertising 
purposes  the  same  value  as  the  same  medal  given  tc  the  largest  London 
houses  for  their  magnificent  productions.  This  system  appears  to  me  to 
be  too  lax. — F.  U.  Y. 
[Our  correspondent  has  evidently  given  much  thought  to  the  subject 
on  which  he  writes,  hut  does  not  appear  to  know  that  the  Council  is 
limited  by  the  charter  to  twelve  Fellows  of  the  Society,  exclusive  of  the 
President,  Treasurer,  and  Secretary  ;  one-fifth  retiring  annually.] 
ARUM  LILIES  AFTER  FLOWERING. 
The  brilliant  display  of  tall,  stately  white  spathes  now  begins  to 
wane,  and  as  they  cease  to  be  effective  cut  down  the  stems  as  low  as 
possible.  Strong  plants  continue  to  produce  several  flower  stems  after 
the  first  has  faded,  therefore  the  need  of  giving  the  later  flowers  a  good 
chance  is  plainly  evident,  but  those  plants  that  have  already  given 
several  blooms  will  now  be  exhausted.  The  plants  ought  to  be  kept 
cool,  moist,  and  in  a  freely  ventilated  structure.  This  is  a  needful 
preparation  towards  standing  the  plants  outdoors,  which  may  be  done 
when  the  foliage  ceases  to  be  tender.  Choose  a  partially  shaded  position, 
but  above  all  avoid  one  either  sunny  or  shady  where  strong  winds  from 
any  quarter  are  prevalent.  It  is  desirable  to  preserve  the  foliage  healthy 
for  some  time  yet,  if  possible,  because  it  plays  an  important  part  in 
